​Latest ESA statistics show 56% success rate on appeal

September 21, 2016

Statistics published this month show that 56% of decisions made by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) regarding Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) are overturned in favour of claimants when they are taken to a tribunal.

This is despite the finding that 89% of ESA claimants asking for a mandatory reconsideration had the decision confirmed as being correct by the DWP.

Anna Nash, Welfare Advisor, Action for M.E. says, “This is important because lots of people with M.E. apply for ESA and then can’t manage to get past the mandatory reconsideration stage as the process is too exhausting. It’s completely understandable that many give up at this point, but these figures show that if they followed on to the appeal, they are then far more likely to receive the benefit.”